Aerial torpedo



C. C. STEVENS. AERIAL TQRPEDOrZ APPLICATION FILED IAN. 22,1919.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

CHARLES c. s'rnvn ns, or LOS AnGELEs, CALIFORNIA.-

AERIAL 'ronrnno.

Specification of Letters Patent. n Patented Feb. 1'7, 7

Application filed January 22, 1919.--- Serial no. 272,471.

I To'aZZ whom it'art'ag concern:

' simple construction Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in'the county of Los Aaigeles and State'of- California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Torpedoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. a

This invention relates to aerial torpedoes,

and more particularly to a torpedo or bomb which is specially adapted to bei dropped from an aeroplane. One'of'the main is to provide an aerial torpedo of very and operation which may be produced at small cost and is highly efiicient. Y r

. A further object isto provide a torpedo which is so constructed as to penetrate the target so as to, when exploded, cause great damage thereto; Y

Another object is to provide a torpedo I which may be safely shipped or transported,

simple and efiicient means being provided for positively. locking the firing element of the torpedo against movement, this locking means being. readilyreleasable when it is desired to use the torpedo.

. Further objects will appear from the detailed description. I

In the drawingsr .1 s Figure 1' is a central: longltudinal section ance with myinvention;

Fig; 2 is-a-side view... a Y Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-4-5 ofFig. 1. r

Fig; 41isa section taken on line .of

Fig. 1.

through 'a; torpedo constructed in accord= Fig. 5 isa section taken on linef55 of Reference numeral 1 designates a substantially frusto-conical polnt or nose which I of body 2,-

is-securedin the forward endof the'cyling weight being p'osltlvely limited by an in relatively thin easily frangible steel-or other;

drical body casing; 2 which is. formed of suitable metali Aswillbe noted, the point 1' is formed of solid-steel and is relatively sharp so-as-to readily piercefla target upon which the to'rpedo is dropped so as to cause:

entry of the: torpedo :into the same. A

perforated tube'3 is secured in the base'v i this tube" proj ectin g into body objects of the invention.

. the

' spring being confined between casing 2 axially thereof. Tube 3' is adapted to contain'an.ignitingcharge 5 of explosive which serves to ignlt'e the main explosive charge 6- ,contained within body casing 2. A

thimble 7 is secured in therearwardor outer end of tube 3, the inner end disk 8 of this thimble being perforated as shown. in" Fig. i

1. The thimble receives a suitable detonating charge 9 of explosive, the outer end of diametrically thereof. 'These rods receive two spaced bars 13 rigidly secured thereto,

this charge being normally protected by a' adjacent their ends. These bars supportbetween them a cylindrical key casing 14 in:

whichis rotatably mounted-a suitable lock ing key, this key being provided with; a

diametric bore 16' through which passes a' v firing pin 17 slidable in a sleeve 18 carried r by casing 14 and mounted" coaxial withtube 3. -Thecasing 14: is further provided with a' relatively short nipple 19' whichis in" alinement with sleeve 18, this nipple being ceiving the inner portion of firing pm '17 spring-2Q is mounted about sleeve 18 and upper portion offfiring pin 17, this p the outer bar 13' and adisk weight 21 which is centrally recessed to receive the outer end portion ofpin 17 secured therein. This weight is pro vided with diametrically opposite I axially extending bores .22 which receive the rods 7 12, the weight-being slidable longitudinally of theserods. Expansion spring 20 acts to' normally hold the weight 21 in raised or outer position, outward movement of this wardly'bowed central stop member 23 carsecured toitheinnerpl'ate 13 and snugly reso'as to guide the same. An expansion coil ried by casing 11 at the outer endthereof. I Normally,.key 15 is turned into such position as to be inbiting engagementwiththe firing pin17, as in Fig. 1, thus effectually locking the firing pin against inward move-- ment so as to-prevent accidental discharge of the'bomb. When it is. desired to use the and may ing being normally closed by bomb, key 15 is turned into such position as to bring the opening 16 thereof into concentric relation with firing pin 17 thus permitting the firing pin to be moved inwardly upon inward movement of weight 21 so as to be brought into engagement with the detonating cap including. the thimble' 8, explosive charge 9, and hood or protecting member 10 therefor. To permit the key to be turned in the manner stated, casing 11 is provided with a suitable opening 24 positioned in alinement with the key,.this opena slidable door or closure plate 25 which is operative in guide strips 26 positioned at each side of the opening. By inserting a suitable instrument through the opening-24, the stem 15 of key 15, which is of proper shape, may

be readily engaged and the key turned into the desired position. In this manner, the torpedo may be readily. rendered V inoperative for shipping or transportation purposes, be quickly and easily rendered operative by turning the key'sli htly in the proper direction. Also, all of t e parts of the firing mechanismar'e inclosed in the casing 11 so as to be effectually protected; thereby,

mechanism-either operative or inoperative,

which is also positioned within the, casing, is readily accessible for the purpose stated. In assembling the torpedo, the head or .point 1 is first secured'in the body casing 2,

after which the main explosive charge '6 may be readily placed in this casing through a suitable fillin'g'opening 27 provided through the base 4 for this purpose,this opening being then closed bya disk 28 which is pivoted to the base, as at 29, and is secured in closed position by a turn button'catch 3OJA'fter the main explosive charge has been placed in the body casing 2, the igniting charge 5 may be placed in tube 3, after which the detonating cap is-mounted inthe outer'end of this tube, the disk weight 22 being then placed upon the rods 12 with firingpin '17 inserted in sleeve 18 and nipplei19, this firing pin extending through the bore16 of pin 15 in the described. The casing manner previously 11 for-the firing mechanism may then be secured in position, this casing acting to de press or force inwardly Weight 22 into its normal position. After the torpedo has been thus assembled, the key 15"is turned into biting engagement with firing pin 17 so as to render the firing mechanism inoperative.

When it is desired to use the torpedo, key 15 is turned so. as to release firing pin 17 thus permitting the same to be moved inwardl'y'ordownwardly toward the detonating cap in the manner described. 1 When the torpedo is dropped upon a target, the relatively sharp pointed solid steel head 1 strikes the target and serves to pierce the while the key for rendering this' same, the torpedo readily entering into the interior of the target in case it is a structure such as a house, ship, or similar structure. Upon impact of the torpedo with the target, its speed of travel will be abruptly reduced, thus causing inward movement of d sk weight 21 due to its inertia against the expansive force of spring 20vso as to bnng firing pin 17 into sharp contact with the detonating char e, thus exploding the same and igniting t e firing charge 5. The debt nating-cap, as well asthe firing charge, may a be either of the instantaneously acting'type, or of aslow actin type-so as to causeexplosion of the main charge of the" torpedo shortly after impact of the same with the target and after the torpedo has entered the interior of the target. In this manner, the. torpedo is caused to first pass into the ins. tenor of the target and then to explode causeing much greater damage than would be the case ifthe torpedo ex loded exteriorly of. the target andv imme iately upon im act. therewith, as do torpedoes or bombs W ich i, are commonly now in use in connection with aeroplane o erations. In additionto being j provided with the solid steel head 1, and the relatively thin body casing 2, which operate to insure piercing of the target bf: the torpedo and shattering of this body upon 96 explosion of the main explosive charge,.tl'ii's.' torpedo has its various parts so related as: to permit ready and quick assembling of the same thus effecting a material saving in the 2 time, and consequently inthe cost, of 100 duction. In addition, it is tobe noted that the firing mechanism is'composed of very few parts, and these parts of very simple and directly acting construction. 1

It will be evident that there may be slight changes made in the construction and Iiirangementof the details of myinvention without departin from the field and'scope of the same, and intend to include all such i; variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention is pointed head secured in one end thereof,sa.id f

casing-beingadapted to contain a main explosive charge, a detonating charge. supported by the base of the'body casing centrally thereof for exploding the main 1 10- sive charge, spaced guide rods exten from the'base of the body casing 10 'tu nally thereof, a weightmember slida le o'n said rods, a firing pincarried by saidinani ber and mounted in alinement withsaid detonating charge for causing detonation themof upon" inward movement of the we' t member, means for normally holding said weight member in its outermostposition, and means adapted to be moved nto eng ment no extending casing secured to the base portion of said body casing, a weight member supported therein for movement toward and i away from the body casing, means for normally forcing the weight member away from said body casing, means carried by the second mentioned casing for positively limiting outward movement of the weight member, a firing pin mounted in axial alinement with said cap carried by the weight member, and means for securing the firing pin against movement toward the cap.

3. In an aerial bomb, a body adapted to contain an explosive charge, a detonating cap supported by said body centrally of the base thereof, guide rods extending 'rearwardly of the body and secured to the base of the same, a weight member slidable upon said rods, an inwardly directed pin secured in said weight member centrally thereof, a substantially cylindrical key rigidly supported by the rods midway between the same, a key mounted in said casing and provided with a diametric bore, saidrpin extending through the casing and through the boreof said key, the key being adapted to be turned into biting engagement with the pin to lock the same against movement, and

means for normally holding the .weight member in its outermost position so as to prevent contact of said nating cap.

pin with the deto 4. In an aerial torpedo, a body adapted to contain a main explosive charge, a detonating cap secured in the base of said body centrally thereof, guide rods secured to the base of the body diametrically of the same and extending rearwardly therefrom, a weight member slidable on said rods, an inwardly directed firinopin secured in said weight member centradly thereof, a supporting bar rigidly secured to said rods adjacent the inner ends thereof, a casing carried thereby midway between the rods, said casing slidably receiving the inner end portion of the firing pin, a key mounted in the easing and provided with a diametric bore receiving the pin, said key being turnable into bitingengagement with the pin so as to prevent movement thereof, an expansion coil spring mounted about the pin and confined between said bar and the weight member so i as to normally hold the weight member in its outer position, and a casing secured upon the base portion of said body and inclosing said rod and weight member and associated parts, said casing being provided with a member engaging the weight member so as to positively limit outward movement thereof, the casing being further provided with an opening positioned to permit ready access to the key for turning the same into or out of operative position.

In testlmony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two wltnesses.

CHARLES C. STEVENS.

lVitnesses: I

THOMAS DUGAN, PALMYRA PREssLY. 

